Why Aussie Galaxy Nexus Won't Get Android Updates Direct From Google

One of the best things about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is that it comes with a vanilla OS: no crapware and no bloated UI skin. But that doesn’t mean that you also get updates directly from Google. If you bought your Galaxy Nexus from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone, you’re not running the latest version of Ice Cream Sandwich, and you probably never will.

It’s a common misconception that Google-branded phones, like the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S, receive firmware updates directly from Google, similar to the way Apple releases iOS updates directly to users without the carrier middleman. On Samsung Australia’s Galaxy Nexus web page, it states that “GALAXY Nexus users enjoy quick access to the latest updates and services directly from Google” (our emphasis). This is clearly not the case. The truth is that there are several hurdles in between Google releasing an update and you getting that update on your phone, which means that you are getting firmware updates months after everyone else.

Being a couple of point releases behind is not the end of the world. Still, it’s not wrong to expect that your phone will receive firmware updates promptly and ask why there is such a delay when that doesn’t happen. Samsung Australia said in a statement to us that it works jointly with Google to release software updates, and those updates are first tested by Samsung and the carrier before being rolled out to users.

As an example, here’s how the process should work in the case of the Galaxy Nexus:

1. Google releases ICS update
2. Samsung checks to make sure the update works with its hardware
3. Samsung releases the update to carriers
4. Carriers check to make sure the update works with their respective network infrastructures
5. Carriers release update to customers

The same essential steps apply for any Android phone sold through a carrier.

Each step of a process like that is obviously going to take some time. While we wish everyone involved would hurry it up a bit, we can appreciate the importance of completing checks thoroughly. Certainly, avoiding issues like the one Telstra iPhone 4S customers experienced is a priority. As one Telstra representative said at the HTC Velocity launch, “If someone can’t make an emergency call because we didn’t test it thoroughly, Telstra will get the blame.”

So when can you expect to see your Telstra/Optus/Vodafone Galaxy Nexus updated to the latest version of Ice Cream Sandwich? We asked the carriers, and the answer depends on who your contract is with.

Telstra:

We expect to receive the 4.0.3 update from Samsung next month. We then hope to test and approve it within a couple of weeks ahead of Samsung making it available to customers.

Optus:

The Nexus devices on Optus are currently using v4.01 and we have approved the rollout of v4.02 to our customers over the next few weeks. We don’t currently have any confirmed details or timings around v4.03.

Vodafone:

The Galaxy Nexus shipped with Android Version 4.0.1. This is the current version for our customers. We are unable to provide any information on timings for the next launch.

If you really hate being on your carrier’s clock for those firmware updates, you can change your carrier-specific firmware build to the stock yakju Google build without having to root your phone. We don’t recommend it for the reasons mentioned above, and if you do it’s entirely at your own risk. The process is outlined over at the XDA Developer forums.

Discuss

You may not be getting updates directly from Google, but at least you're not waiting for the third parties to update their crapware-laden custom Android builds. While not day and date with Google, it should certainly be faster than if you hadn't gotten a Nexus handset.

If you can't wait for the carriers to release the firmware, then just make it a Google Pure handset.

If your handset isn't carrier locked, then head over to XDA Developers, download the yakju Google Pure rom, and flash it. Of course you have to unlock the bootloader which is easy, but what the heck :-)

• Volume is very low. The latest ICS update 4.0.2 does not fix this issue.
• Accelerometer pulls to the left. It is not aligned.
• Email Exchange does not allow for pin security. Customers need to use third party app such as Touchdown in order to connect to their Exchange Servers. Google/Samsung advertised that I could connect to my work emails EASILY. Actually I cannot at all. http://www.google.com/nexus/# the native mail client does not support SMIME so I really don’t understand how you can advertise that we can connect to corporate emails easily. My guestimate would be about 80% of companies are unable to connect or if not more.
• Android on occasions reboots for no known reason. Even during a call whilst the phone rings.
• Multi touch does not work properly.
• Screen sometimes does not rotate with ease.
• Phone’s battery life is atrocious
• Poor 3G connectivity and in some cases no internet connection at all while in the middle of the city with a mobile tower above me.

Interesting. When I was looking at getting an iPhone I was asked by somebody at a Telstra reseller why I didn't want Android. I explained my reasons, one of which was the fact that the Android update situation was a mess. His response was that the Galaxy Nexus won't have that problem.

I have manually installed ICS v4.0.3 on four Nexus S phones, 3 using Optus and mine running on Vodafone. They all run perfectly, except for slightly higher battery drain.
Vodafone's answer: "We are unable to provide any information on timings for the next launch."
doesn't surprise me from a company that can't even provide a decent phone service. I so regret signing up with them.

This is why I'll never buy an Android. I don't want to hack my phone, I want it to work, and I want it to receive the latest updates within a reasonable timeframe of them being released. Those new features and security patches? I'd much rather get them than be able to customise my UI.

haha it does work. And perfectly I might add.
The Galaxy Nexus is easily the best phone I have ever used.
As for the updates. A few months late is very different from HTC's a year late and I can handle that easily as long as it means I won't become a slave to Apple's systems.

It'd dead easy to flash yakju on a yakjuxx device. I did it within an hour of having the phone and it took less than 5 minutes. It's very hard for it to go wrong. Just so you know, not even Google have released a 4.0.3 update, the newest we have is 4.0.2

This process flashes your phone to the European GSM firmware 4.01 (no root or unlock required as its official firmware *it will factory reset your phone*) and as soon as you reboot the phone it receives the 4.02 update. After this process you phone will receive updates direct from Google via OTA.

I have been using it since I posted about it on the Telstra forums and it works great, NextG works the same as before (I get full bars and internet at my mums farm) the only thing that I know the Telstra firmware had over the EU one is HD voice (i dont care). Also as it asumes your british it defaults to Farenheight (impreial) and pounds instead of Celcius and Kg's (Metric) but this is easily fixed with the free market app "morelocal2".

If Telstra and the other Telco's in Australia can get a simple update out on time imagine how long you will have to wait (if you stay with the Carrier firmware) for Android for the next major version of Android. Even when Google tries to do the right thing as far as updates (the way Apple does it) carriers have to interfere and muck things up.

I think it really comes down to a case of to each their own here. I use a third party ROM (currently based of AOKP) on my rooted Nexus S.

I dont own a Galaxy Nexus (yet), but even if I did I'd still use third party ROMs because they provide tweaks that even vanilla Android doesn't offer - like shortcuts on the lock screen, notification toggles and a lot of other functionality which makes Android a pain to use without.

I'm curious as to where anyone got the idea that Nexus handsets are updated directly from Google. The Vodafone Nexus S sold in Australia most definitely isn't; and to the best of my knowledge neither was the Nexus One before it.

As far as people buying Nexus devices for quick updates are concerned, I do largely agree with you on that point. It's been debated in other forums as to whether the original purpose of the Nexus line was to provide a useful handset to developers, or to showcase the standard consumers should expect of Android; but I think undoubtedly that focus has since shifted.

I think too, to be fair here - we're not talking about delays in major revisions. To the average user, there really isn't a huge difference between that of 4.0.1 and 4.0.3. To el Goog's credit too - the Nexus S line didn't have to wait too long to receive ICS; and do the best of my knowledge, these are still the only two phones officially to receive the new software.

That link actually gives a 404 error - but I'll take your word for it. Pretty piss poor performance from Samsung in this case.

In my own case - it really doesn't bother me regardless. As I stated before, even if I had a Google Nexus I still wouldn't be using the stock ROM - stock Android just isn't convient enough for me. That said, I know I can't speak for the majority, or even any other user - many have their own idea of what their phone should do and how it should do it.

Android's biggest appeal to me isn't that it does what I want out of the box, it's that I can reletively easily MAKE it do what I want.

Elly, you provided no evidence that the update doesn't come "directly from Google". Yes, there's an extra *approval* step from Samsung and the carriers, and that will cause delays as you state, but the software still comes from Google. Unlike other phones, the carriers cannot alter the software of the Galaxy Nexus for their own customers, ie. no crapware. For example, the 4.0.2 update for yakjuxw is rolling out now and guess where it is coming from... google.com:

Because if a carrier does anything to offend Apple, Apple tells them to go jump, and won't sell them the hardware any more. Apple demands that they get to do it this way, carrier misses out on large amount of iPhone sales.

Hi Elly,
It's a Galaxy Nexus and it was direct from a Virgin store. I tweeted them asking about it a few weeks back after reading a previous article on here and they replied directly to tell me they expected it in Feb.

Actually I've been very impressed with them, I wrote the customer review on their website and they sent me some mp3 playing headphones as a thank you. Cheapest plan I could find too! (amazing phone too)

A little bit of research would have shown that 4.02 for yakjuxw has been being pushed via OTA for a few days already (staggered rollout). Poor timing for the article. Probably also worth noting that 4.03 OTA rollout for yakju was pulled back, so 4.02 is really the most current version for mass consumption.

4.0.3 is the current version on the Nexus S, and indeed the first version of ICS for that handset. It seems that the Galaxy Nexus launched with 4.0.1, and the version customised for the Nexus S (ie, support for the legacy hardware buttons, etc) was numbered 4.0.3 to distinguish from 4.0.2, which is the first update for the GN branch.

Because the carriers are playing along with Apple's demands. If they want the shiney, they have to give up those rights or lose the account. Whereas no other manufacturer is so demanding. It's not just the user base who loses control of their content to Apple.

Firmware really is an area that I trust the user base to perform better than the manufacturer and carrier, which is why my next phone won't be a bother to unlock. On saying that, the Nexus is still in my sights.

No. If you actually understood the process you would know the only thing the carrier has to be concerned with is if the handset wireless chipset firmware is set to work with carrier signals and bandwidth. That is all. Apple don't play that BS game with the all mighty carriers. The phones OS has nothing to do with the carriers. Google are pussies as they're happy to let the mob fight over who gets what. Microsoft don't have this problem either so if they had the balls, Google could push the issue and get the updates out to the masses. In the end, people will move away from android because of fragmentation.

Again, more baseless conjecture from Kroo. As I've told you before, getting Android out there in many applications, whether Google endorsed or not ensures it will survive some way or another. You're ignorant if you think fragmentation is a limitation.

Most high end smartphones are Quad or penta band units which will work on virtually all networks, limitations in network locking notwithstanding. It's no secret that in an effort to make huge profits, Apple is willing to play hard ball with anyone who "stands in their way." Microsoft are trying to do the same thing, with minimum specifications (to keep manufacturers to some kind of standard) and and a fairly closed ecosystem. Microsoft also have virtually no market penetration.

I just picked up my first android (Gexus) after being an iPhone owner for 3g and 4.

I was looking around on the net for some bug fixes (volume and battery life).

After checking my software version I was running 4.0.1. I tried to update but it said it was up to date. In the end I found I wasnt running stock google Firmware. About a day later it was rooted running Open Kang Project ROM 4.0.3.

Why are we forced to hack our devices to make them work properly? And why has Telstra put their own firmware on it? And what the F have they been doing since mid December! The phone has some critical faults such as low ring tone volume. They give you no indication that the 4.0.3 update is even being assessed!

Anyway custom ROM''s from here on out for me. The phone did not last a week before being rooted.

Sorry, I don't think this really matters. If you're the kind of person who cares about what version of the OS you are running, you are probably going to be the kind of person that knows how to get the latest version on their phone.

Hell, I'm still rocking an HTC Desire HD and even it has ICS 4.0.3 running on it perfectly.